MANILA — The three sibling policemen recently relieved pending administrative charges for confronting a neighbor while armed over a traffic incident may soon find themselves in another assignment outside Metro Manila.
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the transfer of PO3 Ralph Soriano and his brothers PO1 Rendel Soriano and PO1 Reniel Soriano, along with other policemen under restricted custody, is possible since there are police posts that badly need warm bodies.
“We need people. I just came from Koronadal. Their request is additional personnel, so actually we will be accounting lahat ng mga tao natin sa (all our personnel in) holding and accounting units — kung sino ang pwede natin deploy (who can be deployed). Dapat wala tayo dyan na nandyan lang at nagre-relax (We should not have people there who are just relaxing),” Albayalde said, referring to policemen at the PNP Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
He said policemen in custody can always undergo investigation while reassigned to other regions.
“Pwede naman natin transfer yung kanilang (We can transfer their) administrative cases in other regions so why do they have to stay here in Metro Manila or stay in Camp Crame doing nothing? Yan ang gagawin natin ngayon. (That is what we will do.) We will account for all personnel na bakit sila nandyan sa PHAU natin (why they are in PHAU) doing nothing,” Albayalde added.
Aside from police in intelligence units and plainclothesmen, policemen cannot bring a firearm when not in uniform, he said.
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday confirmed that its chief Camilo Cascolan has ordered Caloocan Police Chief Senior Supt. Restituto Arcangel to put the three policemen under restrictive custody.
The NCRPO said Cascolan made the directive after watching the video on social media where the policemen, with guns tucked in their waistbands, harassed a neighbor in Caloocan City. Cascolan also ordered administrative and criminal charges be filed against the policemen.
A case for violation of election gun ban has been filed before the Prosecutor’s Office of Caloocan City against the three cops. (PNA)
